The Water Framework Directive - What is it?

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a proactive piece of environmental legislation that represented a significant shift in emphasis for water management when it came into force in December 2000. 

Its purpose is to establish a framework for the protection of all inland surface and ground waters, together with all estuarine and coastal waters, which:

"prevents further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems and, with regard to their water needs, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on aquatic ecosystems" (Article 1).

It is a proactive piece of environmental legislation because it requires the UK to put in place aspirational objectives for aquatic ecosystems - and then to put in place a programme of measures in order to achieve them.

These objectives and measures will be set out in a planning document called a River Basin Management Plan.  This will need to integrate with existing planning requirements.  Encouraging the 'active involvement' of interested parties and stakeholders is also a requirement at all stages in the planning process.